Radiant energy distance determining system



Dec. 19, 1933. E. G. GAGE 1,939,685

RADIANT ENERGY DISTANCE DETERMI'NING SYSTEM INVENTOR EDWARD AGE ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1933. E. G. GAGE 1,939,685

RADIANT ENERGY DISTANCE DETERMINING SYSTEM Filed March 14, 1931 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 QQ INVENTOR EDWARD 6. GAGE ATTORN EY Dec. 19, 1933. E. G. GAGE 1,939,685

RADIANT ENERGY DISTANCE DETERMINING SYSTEM Filed March 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 loo Degrees aqalroa E 62@ 9o? Pofboo a ssJadmH 0.0 7/4/ u! 214244,20

INVENTOR EDWARD 6I 6A 0E l/ BY r j ATTORNEY Patented Dec. I9, 1933 NETE@ saar s RADANT ENERGY DESTANCE DETRMN- ING SYSTEM r ration of New York Application March r4, 1931'. serial Netcare? 7 Claims.

The invention relates to a radio transmission and reception systemV and to a novel combination of apparatus utilized therein; and more particularly to the determination of the distance between a radio transmitting station and a radio receiving station, one. ofi whichy is movable relatively to the other` Y In acorresponding application, Serial #483,802',

I havedisclosed a method and apparatus `whereby la such determination is eected yby the transmission simultaneously of two signals, one of long wave length and high attenuation, and one of short wave length and low attenuation, said signals being received simultaneously on separate and ,independent receiving apparatus, and the differenceV in amplitude of the received signals then utilized as a measure of the distance.

The present invention has for an object the" dual reception by a single receiver apparatus of a .y signal of'higli'attenuation and long Wavev length and asignal of low attenuation and comparatively short wave length and transmitted alternately.

A' further object' of the invention resides in the provision of means for increasingithe attenuation ,between the two received signals, andalso inthe provision of' means for Varying vthe amplitude of theone of the two received signals withoutl varying the amplitude of the other signal.

A. still further object of the` invention is to eiect an equalization between the received signals by drawing the received energy from differentv points on their resonance curves, the required dissonance ofthe one'as compared With the resonance of the otherv servingas a measure ,oi the* distance; andV an additional objectief' the invention resides in the provision of meansfor` accomplishing the resonance adjustment or" one of thev signals without disturbing the resonance'. adjustment of the'other. p

The invention has for'another object. the reception of either modulated continuous waves or` heterodyne` signals, and the provision ofy means for equalizing thek signals of low attenuationv and the signals of highattenuation by variably cou' ,pling an auxiliary Wave collector to the receiving circuit ofv the low attenuation signal independently of the reception of the high attenuation signal, the degree of vcoupling necessary` to effect.

such equalization being a measure of the distance.`

Another object of theY invention resides in the combination of a radio compass anda distance finder embodying directional loops in which the deviation' of one'loop from the true direction, as shown by the'oth'er, for equalizing the'amplitude of the tworeceivedV signals serves bothI asa meararita@y swift'iloiE.l

arrangement' of: a receiving system embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is aplan View` ior'reading directlydistance.v l AV'.Fig. '4 illustratescurves'of direction; coupling and capacity for usein ca1ibratingthe1neasuring'instrument' illustrated'inFig'. 3'.

Referring tothe' drawingslddesignates a'conventional antenna of relatively'good radiating; properties' and operating" near vits' fundamental' frequency. It is preferably of the verticallydise posed'typeyandofllow ohmic resistance'and high radiation resistance for' `transmitting ysignals of low attenuation and-.on` anfinterr'nediate Wave band, forje'xample, SOUmeters. l

An oscillator circuitf Vembodying* the oscillator tube 11 isgcoupled totlie antennay through the4 variable' gridjV coupling" 12 andI plateicou'plng" 13;

the' oscillator' being offrevlativc'ly low power y and* energized either from the plate battery* lit1 or yfrom a modulatedsourceof`a1ternating current 15', a change-'over switch in one or the other. n

Fig. l' illustrates also an-` additional oscillating: circuit embodying the oscillator tube 2'0V4 of rela# tively'liighpower and operating at"comp'arati've ly low frequencyor long Wave, for'examplei 30,000 meters. The oscillator is energized from"the" battery 2l or modulatedl sourceV of alternating current 22;, the change' fromio'n'e'v to the' other beingeffected by a switch 23. The'latter osc'il; lating circuitl isv couplf'e'd, as through the variable gridcoupling24 andplatefcoupling .25', with an. antennaA 26fgrounded at 27.v This antenna is'oi the" order of a closed loop, having the armsV or ijcb'eing providedito' f entf f a measuringnstrumentf branches'28'extending radially outwardly fromy To alternately transmit signals over the aforesaid antennae, a rotatable switch device embodying the cam is providedVthe same being driven from a-motor 3l and periodically closing alternately contacts 32 and 33, respectively.

The receiving circuit is indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings and embodies a multi-turn direc- 1 tional loopv 35 provided with a pointer element 36,

and is adapted to be tapped at different points as at 37 for tuning to resonancev in the case of signal of long wave and high attenuation.

A further loop 38 of a fixed number of turns, and having the pointer element 39, is also associated with the loop 35. Both of the saidloops are rotatable about a fixed shaft 40, and at the bottom of the shaft is attached for rotation a scale element 41 having the pointer 42 adapted to cooperate with the pointer elementsv 36 and 39 of the loops. Pointer 42 is located at the zero pointof the scale element which is provided with graduations upon opposite sides of said'pointer indicating units of distance. Loop 38 is Atuned by means of a short wave condenser 4 3, while a shunt condenser 44, preferably xed, is connected with theloop Vfor the signal of, long wave length.V The receiving system embodies, furthermore, an independent and auxiliary short wave antenna-45 which maybe variably coupled to the receiving circuit, hereinafter described, by means of aV variable couplingcoil 46, said antenna being grounded .at -47 and including also in series a variable condenserl 48. The coupling coil 46 is .to be equipped with the ,usual handle and scale Vfor rotation Vby the former in the' well known manner, and is shown in detail in Fig. 3 of the drawings and/hereinafter more fully described.

Similarly, the variable condenser 48 may be equipped with operating handleor knob and scaleV The introduction ofV the antenna 45 to the receiving` circuit maybe for adjustment purposes.

accomplished by means of a switch 49 whichv at the same time throws out of circuit the loop 38.

vThe incoming circuit'50 from the various antenn is connected with the radio. frequency amplifying tube 51, which may be-of the screen grid type, and detectortube 52 and the audiofrequency amplifying tube 53. A fixed impedance 54 with small shunted variable capacity-55 and 'a variable impedance 56, shunted by a large fixed condenser 56', may be connected across the output from the' radiofrequency tube 51, the condenser 55` being'V for the purpose of tuning the short wave radio `frequency Vcircuit to the' detectorindependently of the adjustments for the long wave reception,4 which are effected by variable impedance 56.

A variableresistance 57shunted by a con-- denser 58, is included in series Lwith the output circuit from the detector for the purpose of varyingl the plate voltage of said circuit and consequently the gain of the following audiofreduency amplifying tube 53to suit conditions.

Theoutput ofthe amplifying tube 53 is connected through a rectier, embodying the tube' 60 with plate and grid strapped together, to a sensitive microammeter 61 provided with Variable shunt 62-for adjustment of signal strength. YA

. loudspeaker 63 is connected across the instrument circuit for affording an audible signal in conjunction 'with a visual. signal.

VThere is also associatedV with the receiving apparatus hereinbefore described a short wave local heterodyne oscillator 65 and a similar oscillator 66 for long wave heterodyning,.these oscillators being utilized in the receptionof unmodulated continuous wave signals when'such signals are transmitted from the antennae 10 and 26, respectively. The respective oscillators are placed in action in the usual manner by the closing of a niament switch 67 and a filament switch 68 for their respective tubes 69 and 70; andas hereinbefore noted, switches 16 and 23 are provided for selecting either modulated or unmodulated transmission.

A convenient instrument for use with the coupling Vand resonance methods of reception is shown in detail in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and comprises a Xeddial portion which is suitably calibrated for approximately two quadrants, and a movable arm 76 which is rotatably mounted centrally of said scale. Arm 76, furthermore, is provided with two radiallyl disposed windows 77 and 78, the former being adapted to move over the scale 75 and the latter over a further circulariy disposed scale '79 concentric with the scale The' latter scale '79, however, is calibrated in opposite directions from a zero position, and, moreover, is circularly. movablev as by means of an operating knobl 80 attached to'its uncalibrated portion. rlhe aforesaid calibrations of scale '79 are in units of distance, such as miles,l

and are visible throughthe window 78, both winandjcapacity.

In the practical operation ofVV the hereinbefore described radiant energy distance determining systemfand apparatus, the transmission apparatus for radiation of both the long and short waves may be located'near each other as on the same groundor within an airport, or, they may Vbe widely -separated and connected byv a land wire, for example, in the manner more particularly set forth` inv a copending application led byl me of even datey herewith.

Assuming, for example, that both radiating systems are located on the same grounds, as indicatedin Fig. 1 of the drawings, the Shortwave oscillatoril and the long wave oscillator 2D are respectively coupled to their radiating antenna 10 and 26. The control motor 3l for effecting energization alternately of the said oscillators-is then lcaused' to revolve the disk 30 so as to close the contactsl 32 and 33 alternately for energizing the Shortwave antenna and the long wave antenna.k A'llhis latter antenna, as hereinbefore described, i s preferably a combination of loop and open antenna, although av simpleantenna or a simple loop may be used ifdesiredprecautions being taken in the `latter event for directing its radiations.. Y Y In the deformed type of antenna 2 6 embodying thev radiatingarms 28 and condensers 29 interposed between ,theV same and the ground, .the Ycapac'zit'y of each of these condensers is such that a rdefinite proportion of the energy is passed ric therethrough to the ground, thus forming a closed Y loop of each branch or arm. In view of the distribution of these loops about the upright por- .non-directional and radiates electromagnetic waves approximately equally inA all directions, the amount of the energyV radiated depending upon thecapacity of theA condensers 29e for attenuating to the desired extent thel radiated signali For example, if the condensers 29 are of very large capacity, say of the order of magnitude of 1 mfd., totalling inthe case of the six branches shown 6 mfds. in series with the main upright portion ofthe antenna and ground, the structure will then operate similarly to loops in parallel and depend for radiation attenuaticnon the area enclosed. A y

`VOn the other hand, ifthe condensers in series with each branch be of the order of .001- mfd.

and making a total for the six branches of .006

mfd. in series with the upright portion of the antenna land ground, Ythe structure will then radiate more nearly like an` open antenna and the attenuation will depend on the height of the structure. v

A combination may be chosen by trial which willV give the desired attenuation for a limited range; andhaving ascertained this, the capacity 29 is xed. When the energizing source is then coupled to the antenna 26, as through the coupling 25, electromagneticwavesof relativelyY high attenuation constant will be radiated from said antenna when the rotating disk 30 engages with the contact 33.

that the no-contact intervalbe asshort as possibleto avoidlarge movement of the needle of receiver instrument 61 when changing over from one antenna to the other.

By means of the respective switches 16 and Y23, the radiated signals may be changedfrom modulated continuous waves to unmodulated waves, but in the operation of the system both oscillatorsV should send out the same kindv of wave. Assuming that both oscillators are transmitting with modulated continuous waves, the

energy of each is maintained constant by a reference to the radio frequency meters l0 and 26' included inI the respective antenna circuits of antennae 10 and 26, for example, by suitablyV changing the coupling at-131 and 25.

I-he proportion of power assigned to each oscillator'depends upon the desired` range of the par-A ticular station and where the limit of range for the short wave radiated signal is required to be, for example, 50 miles, the primary power may approximate 50 watts.- Wherethe limit of range for'the long wave is required to be approximately 5 miles, the primary power required will be substantially 5 kilowatts. In this connection, it is always desirable that the radiated signals of short wave have a longer range than the signals of longer wave in order that the former may be picked up rst and serve as-aguide in ascertaining the direction of the weaker or long wave signal.

In taking a distance reading by the directional method, utilizing the loop antenna and 3 8', thev an airplane, is then tuned rstto the short waveand the direction of the transmitting Vstationl devthe needle of instrument 61. When this position.

termined by rotatingiinthea usual manner ashortwave. loop, until maximurrrdeflectionA of meter:` needle is obtained on the instrument 61. The airplane or other carrying medium ofthe receiver apparatus isthenheaded toward the transmitting station.V

When the shortwave signal is first picked up on the .loudspeakerl 63,; or on. headphones (not shown), the needle ofinstrument 61 will Show no deflection, indicating that the airplane isbeyond the range ot the transmitter for the long Wave signals. However, as the'signals of.. shorter wave become stronger, due tothe approach of 'the airplane to the transmitting. station, the needle ofv the measuring.l instrument will. show a. slight movement toward the'middle of its scale, andv when maximum.. needle..movement is attained: (approximately the middle-.ofthe scale oi instrument 61) the long wavesignal has become audible inv the-loudspeaker 63 andy is tuned by tapping its loop. at the connection 337 .to maximum. response and at which the instrument needle will show a. slight movement. Loop35 is thenY swung to posi.- tion for maximum deflection of. needle and` willliein plane of loop38. The marking zero pointer 42.100? of the distance scale of dial. 41 is then adjusted,V by moving said. dial, until it registers with the long. wave loop pointer 36. Thereupon, the shorter'.- loop pointer 39. is rotated by swinging l0op138'. out of the true direction until the reading of. the needle of instrument 6l is the same as that` produced bythe long Wave signal. on said instrument.

Theposition of? the short Wave loop pointer 39' with respect tothe long wave looppointen 36..` is then indicated` by thegures on.' the scale or the 11g. dialr and the angular amount whichthepointer 39, has been displaced with reference to the. zero pointer 42 indicatesthedistance of the receiving. station fromthetransmitting station, said distance being readable'on the dial from the scale 115x thereon, for example, in miles.

Toi take a distance reading by the coupling method, switch 49 is thrown to introduce. the auxiliary antenna 45 with Variable coupling coil 46,- cuttingout at the same timethe receiver loop'12nx 38. In this measurement the determina-tion of:v direction. of thetransmitting stationas. previously practiced in-thecaseoitheshort waveloop: is optional, as the antenna` 45 picks up signals. equally well from'. alldirections. The long wave 125i loop-35, however, must be pointed in linewiththe transmitter station formaximum needle-deflection, unless there be substitutedifor the loopv 35 l Van open circuit antenna similar to the. antenna 45 and which may be utilized, if desired. y

` Having obtained the maximum needle deflection-for the longwaveboth by tuning and by suitablydirectingsaid loop 35 and likewise having obtained a maximum deection for the'short wave signal by useof the tuning Ycondenser'l 135 associated with antenna 45, the adjustable coupling 46 is manipulated tok obtain optimum` cou pling of said coil; asv by Vturning the -knob '76,. the. same being indicated by maximum deiiectionzofv.

146* has been located, the movable scale 79Lis rotated about thev xed scale '75A byI manipulating knobf 80'until the zero of said scale is underthe windowv 78 and registeringwith the marker 81'. Scale'g is then maintained in this position while the'arm. '76 is moved to one side or the other of the optimum coupling position as indicated by. the

scale 79.

It iste-be noted thatthe adjustment isbesttaken on the same side, although the couplingY l5@ curve being 4symmetrical .the 4error will Vnot be sides of the Zero so thataquick approximate iv5 reading isalways available without Ythe necessity of making a decision as toy which. side of the optimum position to take readings. The :ligure on lscale 79 which then appears under the window 78 indicates-the distance in miles, orunits E of distance. s

The scale and its corresponding window 77 and the marker 82 may be dispensed with, if it be found desirable to simplify the apparatus. It

serves, however, as a convenient marker for the optimum coupling position, vand its use is to be recommended. The variable shunt 62v across the measuring'instrument 61 Vis utilized to bring the4 short wave strong signals4 within Ythe Yrange of the' instrument, in manner well understood.

`The procedure vfor taking readings by means of resonance orcapacity method is practically the same as thatv described .for the coupling method, the variable, condenser 48 being provided with a calibratedv operating handleV as in- 'dicated in Fig. 3 and utilized similarly `to the adjustment of coupling 46, the only difference being in the calibration of thev scale. A maximum needle deflection of theinstrument 61 is obtained for the long wave signals by means rliof directing the loop 35v and tuning of the same by adjusting top 37, and a maximum deflection for the short wave signalV by adjusting condenser43 Aand the couplingl 46'- and condenser 48.

This adjustment vof both long and short wave circuits when they are connected tothe same grid circuit, Vdoes not interfere with their independent adjustment and consequently one does not become detuned by a change in the following re'ason.'. f

Condenser43 is very small compared to condenser 44. Condenser 43, being in shunt with loop 38 or coil 46 is sufficiently large to tune to short wave signals, but is too small to make any appreciablediiference in the period of loop 35,y

which already has a very much larger capacity 44 in `shunt withit.

,In the same manner, changing the inductance of loop 35 does not materially influence the short wave loopl orfantenn circuit because rthis injductance is already by-passed for high frequency or short .wave signals by the very large fixed condenser `44. Y

The window v77 of the arm 76, as the condenser 48 is adjusted, serves to indicate the point of jresonance on scale 75; and when this has' been found, the lscale 79 is moved by knob 80 until the zero ofsaid Vscale is under the window 78, or opposite the figure on Ythe scale 75 which is under window 77. The condenser 48 is then dej tuned by moving the. arm 76 until the needle deflections of instrument 61 are thesame both for the long and short waves received. Window 78 will then be over the figure on scale79 which indicatesv the distance in miles-or other unit of disvtance. Y

Y Theresonance curve is likely to be unsymmetrical and for thisV reason it is best to adhere to one side or the other o-f the resonance curve tion.

l. Itis-to be understood thatin allthe foregoingthree methods, namely:Y direction, coupling vand resonance, the procedure of ,determining disftanc'e has been previously carried out and the the other for results calibrated on the scales'as shown; Each;l

method may be used as a checkl on the other two.v The taking of readingsv when unmodulatedV continuous wavesare'transmitted, is the'` same as with modulated waves except that in the for.- mer instance` the local oscillators 65 and 66-are rendered active by closing their filament battery switches 67 and 68, respectively. The local oscillators are then detuned from the signal suiciently to produce the desired audio frequency, usually approximately 700 cycles. These local oscillators, as in all kreceivers of heterodyned signals, should be located at a predetermined and fixed distance vfrom their respective receiving loops in order to provide `for optimum Aheterodyne* values, as is well understood. The selected positions, as well as all electrical values ofthe oscillators, must be maintained constant during and after calibration.' v.

TheV entire receiving apparatus,l exclusive of the auxiliary antenna, may be located in a convenient cabinet suitableforuse on an airplane,

dirigible, ship, submarine, or the like, and may f serve both as adistance andv direction finder. I claim: v Y r 1 l. In a'system of the character set forth: a

pair of transmitting antennae adapted yfor elec- 4 different radiating powers, means to radiate alternately the waves of different power characteristics, a dual-tuned receiving circuit including a pair of receiving antennae connected thereto and with characteristics correspondingto theirespective transmitted waves, instrumentalities subject to the effectof the different received waves, means to adjust the effects on said instrumentalities, and means to measure the amountof adjustment required as a kmeasure of the, distance sought. Y

3. In a system of the character set forth: ar pair of transmitting antennae adapted for electromagneticwaves of different frequenciesandhaving diierent radiating powers, means to radiate alternately the wavesoi` different power charac-` teristics, a dual-tuned receiving circuit including aA pair of loop antenneeconnected thereto and having characteristics ,corresponding tothe respective transmitted waves, means to adjust Ythe A pair of. transmitting antennae adapted for electromagnetic Waves of different frequencies, and having different radiating powers, means to radiate alternately the waves ofk different power characteristics, a dual-tuned receiving kcircuit including a pair of antenna one of which is of the directional` and the other ofthe non-directional type,

means to obtain maximum response by the former, means to adjust the other of the antennae to equal the maximum response of the directional antenna, Vand means to measure the amount of V adjustment required as a measure of the distance sought.

5. In a system of the character set forth: a pair of transmitting antennae adapted for electromagnetic waves of different frequencies, and having diferent radiating powers, means to radiate alternately the Waves of different power characteristics, a dual-tuned receiving circuit including a pair of antenn one of which is of the directional and the other of the non-directional type, means to obtain maximum response by the former, a variable capacity in the circuit of the other antenna, means to vary said capacity to equal the maximum response of the directional antenna, and means to measure the amount of adjustment required as a measure of the distance sought.

6. In a system of the character set forth: a pair of transmitting antenn adapted for electromagnetic waves of different frequencies, and

'having dierent radiating powers, means to radiate alternately the Waves of Adifferent power characteristics, a dual-tuned receiving circuit including a pair of antennae one of which is of the directional and the other of the non-'directional type, means to obtain maximum response by the` former, a variable coupling associated with the other antenna, -means tov vary said coupling to equal the maximum response of the directional antenna, and means to measure the amount `of adjustment required as a measure of the distance sought. y

7. In a system of the character set forth: a pair of transmitting antennae adapted for electromagnetic waves of diierent frequencies, and having different radiating powers, means to radiate alternately the waves of dlierent power characteristics, a dual-tuned receiving circuit including a pair of antennae one of which is of the directional and the other of the non-directional type, means to obtain a predetermined response by the former, means to adjust the other of the antennae to equal the predetermined response Yof the directional antenna, and means to measure the amount of adjustment required as a measure of the distance sought.

EDWARD G. GAGE. 

